Number Of Ohio Spots Operating Sweepstakes Videogames Jumps 13%

COLUMBUS, OH -- Attorney General Mike DeWine has updated Ohio's running total of sweepstakes videogame locations from his mid-July count of 667 to 772. The number was increased because dozens of operators filed their affidavits on 105 additional locations after the June 11 deadline.

DeWine said that assuming each known electronic sweepstakes venue has an average of 10 machines, there are probably at least 7,600 sweepstakes units operating in Ohio -- more than the 5,873 authorized slot machines and VLTs at the state's casinos and racetracks. | SEE STATEMENT

As part of House Bill 386, which contained a moratorium on new Internet sweepstakes parlors opening until June 30, 2013, existing Internet café owners on or before June 11, 2012, were required to file affidavits with the attorney general's office.

DeWine said his staff received some affidavits for locations claiming to have been in operation and conducting sweepstakes prior to the effective date of the statute, when in fact there were no facilities currently operating at those addresses. In Ohio, filing a false affidavit is a first-degree misdemeanor.

The attorney general renewed his earlier call for extensive regulation of sweepstakes videogames. | SEE STORY